Air NZ cancels Saudi contract, 'returns job incomplete'

Air NZ’s CE has confirmed the airline has terminated its contract with the Saudi military and the job will be returned as incomplete. Greg Foran said Air NZ was reviewing the process that led to the contract being signed. TVNZ revealed on Sunday that an Air New Zealand subsidiary worked on two engines and one power turbine module from vessels belonging to the Saudi Navy through a third-party contract. The Saudi Navy has been enforcing a blockade on the country of Yemen, stopping food and medicine getting to the war-torn country. PM Jacinda Ardern said she had asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to look into the revelation Air NZ helped the Saudi Arabian navy. The Government owns a majority stake in the airline. Ardern said she learnt of the matter on Sunday because of a media request and said the contract was completely inappropriate. She said there was a question mark over whether it breached New Zealand export requirements, and she was asking the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) to look into the matter. Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran apologised for the incident on Tuesday and said he was only made aware of it recently.<br/>